Device for the correction of weakness of the feet



Oct.19, 1937. F. s. CHAMBERS DEVICE FOR THE CORRECTION OF WEAKNESS OF THE FEET Filed Sept. 29, 1936 W Hanan 5 mam/58rd ,yrra/wsns.

Patented Oct. 19 I937 'VPATNT OFFICE DEVICE OR THE CORRECTION OF :WEAKNEVSS OF THE FEET 7 Francis S. Chambers, Lancaster, Pa.

' Application September 29, 1936, Serial No. 103,077

Claims.

10 The device in accordancewiththis invention will function primarily to bring the various elements of the foot in proper relation to receive and sustain the superimposed body weight without undue strain on the ligaments of the foot and without interference with the normal functioning of the parts .of the foot in walking.

, Broadly speaking, the device in accordance with -this invention will comprise as essential elements a heelenga ing; memberand a member engaging ,the forefoot, thetwo members being connected at O posite sides of the foot by; means of a tension member adapted for adjustment to effect tortional pull on the foot, whereby the forefoot and heel are twisted in opposite directions causing the members of the foot to assume their normal,

intended relation for the support of superimposed body weight.

More particularly, the device may be embodied in any form of foot-gear comprising the usual elements, as heel counter, sole and upper, or the essential elements may be combined for application to the foot independently of foot-gear.

Having now indicated in a general way the nature and purpose of this invention, I will proceed to a detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a shoe embodying this invention and, more particularly adapted for the correction of flat foot,

Figure 2 is a side View of the shoe shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of the shoe shown in Figures'l and 2.

In the several figures the shoe illustrated comprises a sole a, a built-up heel 1), upper 01 and heel counter or cup (2.

It will be appreciated that the shoe may be of any form or construction other than such as is illustrated and may be of the slipper or sandal type.

Secured to the heel cup at a point on the inner side of the anterior portion of the heel is a strap member e, which extends forwardly. along the inside of the heel, while a strap member f is secured to the sole, or to the welt of the shoe, on

the outside of the'shoe at a point corresponding to the position occupied by the ball of the little toe.

One of the strap members, for example, member f, carries a buckle and the other strap member, as, for example, the member e is perforated at intervals to receive the tongue of the buckle whereby the strap members may be connected together.

The strap members 6 and f are arranged so that when they are'connected together by the buckle and adjusted a tension member extending from'the anterior portion of the heel to a point adjacent the ball of the little toe, in a spiral direction forwardly and upwardly along the inside of the heel, over the head of the astragalus and over the dorsum of the foot, is provided.

The shoe illustratedis provided with a usual tongue 1' and with holes h for a shoe lace, by adjustment of which the shoe will be retained on the ,foot. i

In operation, assuming that the shoe illustrated is applied to the right foot of one suffering from flat foot, or weakness of the arch of the foot, the strap members e and f are connected by means of the buckle g and are tightened up to apply force acting between a point adjacent the ball of the little toe and the anterior portion of the heel along the inner side of the heel. The force is directed spirally over the dorsum of the foot, being directed forward and upward on the medial side of the heel, over the head of the astragalus and scaphoid and then over the dorsum, to the side of the head of the fifth metatarsal bone or the distal third of its shaft.

As the result of the force exerted and of the direction in which it is exerted with respect to the several parts of the foot, the forefoot and heel are held in a twisted relation to each other, bringing the various parts of the foot into normal relationship and inhibiting the foot from untwisting or flattening out. The forefoot is adducted in relation to the heel and the head of the astragalus, which is prominent in weak feet, such as fiat feet, affords a fulcrum against which the force is exerted and as a consequence receives pressure directed laterally outward of the foot which, in connection with the twisting of the forefoot with respect to the heel, causes it to assume its normal position. 7

In the application of the device in accordance with'this invention to the treatment, for example, of club foot, the direction of extension of the strap formed bythe memberse and f will be it,-:may beawholl y independent of such-'shoe'or cfoot -gearfifjany,as may be worn; 'Thusfit will 1 be obvious that the device'rnaycomprise' a suit- I f able strap or band for engagement'ofthe iore Y foot anda'n adjustable strap memben such as-is described above, or an elastic member secured to thejcu'p and band so that on application the strap member will; extend along the heel and forwardly able cup-like device for engaging the heel a .suitan'd upwardly 'orver the dors'umi of the f oo t to enc foot.

gagement with the band member at a point 'adjacent'the'ball, of the 1ittle .toe,"or of the; big toe, j dep'ending: upon whether the' tension is to be applied to one sufieringirom, for example, fiat r i oot cr 'one 'suffering fror'nifor example} club- V flifroot to 'a point' adjacentthe ball of therlittle toe,

s that variousimodification in -'detail may be made 1 without departing-from the scope of thisinv ont V or ioi the bigitoe'y It will beunder'stood that thei particulari description of 'an ernbodi ment of this;

' inventionigiven above is illustrativeonly and not V .[intended to be in anyway limiting on this invenfo-r'embracing the ball of the 'forefoot and tenof the sole at a :point corresponding 'tion of the ball. of the little toe.

V Itlwill be'understood th'at 'this'invention, from; ,7 i llthe broad standpoint,contemplates any; means 7 V 5 for the application ofa twisting or'tors'ional force upon the foot extending-from the anteriorfportion of the heel forwardly along the heel and 'upwardly and forwardlyalong-the dorsum of the 1 a a 5 4 7 along the outside- 0f the heel, forwardly andup What I claim and desire to protect by Letters I wardly over the dorsum of the f oot,'to a point i V adjacent the ;b al1-of the big toe, so that when 7 the strapjis tightened up and force applied,'it 'will' act'to twist the foot oppositely irom that in 7 which it'is "desired to, twist the foot in the case of fiat foot, withrthe' resultjthat. the tendency- V of theparts of'the foot o'ut-of normalrelationship in club foot will'be to returnto'their'riormal relaa 1 {tion under'the action of the'appli'ed force, 5 7 It will be appreciated that the device in ,ac-

cordance with this inventionan eed not be em'-"" Vb'o'died'in a complete shoe, itibeingfobvious that Patent is: t

' 1. 'A' device for correcting weakness of thefeet' comprisingrmeans for engaging the heel, means sion means connected to said two' first mentioned means respectively at opposite sides of the foot footzwhe'reby the forefoot: and heel-are twisted oppositely. V A

and adapted to. extend over the'dorsu'm of the V I -7 1o V Z An art cle of footwear adapted forcorrect in gweaknesscof the feetcomprising ashoe in-W cluding a'. sole,,an upper and a heel cup and a tension 'me'rnber' connected totheheel cup .Vand

extending forwardly; and upwardly along; a side ing weakness of the feet comprising a sole, an

433A deViCefor c rrecting weakness ofthejeet if comprisingmeans for' exerting "a twistingQof the I r V Qforefootwithrespecttothe heehsaid meansccom 30R: 7 'on one 'sideo'f the foot and toc'theother sideof the 'foot adjacent to theball 'thereo ffand 'said I f means extending over'thedorsunig. I

prising a tension member connected tothe heel 5. AdeviceVfor'correctingweaknessofz the ret i comprising a sole, a heel'cup secured to the sole,"

l5 *thereof and over andacross "the-upper tolconnection'with the edge of the shoe at a point corresponding; to the positionof the ball of the room,

' r 3, An article of Iootwear adapted for correct- V upper and a heel cup anda tension membercon-H f: 1 nectedto therheel-cup extending for'wardly and upwardly'along the insidethereof and over; 1f and acrossthecupper to connection withtheed'ge a tensionjmernberl connected to one side of' the 'site'jside offthe' foot from'thepointjot 'com'iec tion 7 to the heel cup and adjacent to' 'theposition of the ball of the foot,,said tension r'n ember being 4 N V v V V iladapted, when the soleand heelfoup are in place 1 l xtionrfrom the broad standpoint, 'it being obvious;

jheel cupfand to'the sole ata pointOn-thpppo-fe on the foot,-'to extend over the dorsum ofthei'ootj; 

